At the opening link, the debate over pronunciation preferences rages on. Meanwhile, back at The Monastery, the concept of the formal tea emerges on West 25th Street, where Nelson Cintron did recently roam. Seems like they have an interesting proposition:

Our menu features our own tea cured meats, a fusion of historic recipes with a contemporary twist, utilizing international ingredients. Over 150 teas are available for enjoying here or at home. We also offer French press coffees, chocolate, and other infusions to stimulate and please your palette. Daily we feature the chef’s special creations. Our recipes take health and nutrition into consideration, while pleasing the senses. You can dine choosing a light and original meal, or hearty, for the larger appetite. We feature homemade appetizers, soup, salads, entrees, and special desserts made fresh daily. Our creations are available for takeout to feed yourself, family, or to entertain. To increase your awareness and to educate, we offer hand-outs on the health benefits, history, and other interesting facts on tea, beverages and other featured ingredients.

We feature a Formal Tea for your enjoyment. The menu includes homemade scones, lemon curd, honey & lavender cream, strawberry cream, tea sandwiches, and desserts. For your visual pleasure, we also offer "display teas", which is meant to delight your eyes as well as taste buds. They make a very fitting finish to a special meal. They unfurl when added to water, revealing delicate flowers hidden within. The practice of hand-sewing leaves into "blooming teas" is an age-old Chinese art form that dates back centuries.

1 comment:

The Monastery's scones are the best I've had in this country (and that's including the scones I used to bake at Nature's Bin in Lakewood, ages ago.) They're crisp and have grill-marks, like they're made in a panini-iron thing. The honey-lavender cream is something that I don't dare try making myself because I'm afraid I'll get it wrong.